Hand On, Kid Tested: Bossa Nova Robotics Penbo
Posted in: hands-on, Robots Robotics, Tech Toys, Today's Chili
Penbo, from Bossa Nova Robotics ($79.99 list), is an adorable interactive robotic penguin created just for kids. It’s recommended for children ages four and up, so my four-year-old daughter qualifies; she and I tried it out.
After fighting through the standard packaging with its multitude of wire-ties, I was finally able to hand Penbo to my daughter. Her immediate reaction: “She’s cute, and I like her bow. It looks pretty on her.” Happily, batteries are included with Penbo, so as soon as we got her out of the package we were playing with her.
Penbo also comes with a baby penguin, named Bebe, who you’ll find in an egg stored in Penbo’s tummy. Once you open the egg, you can use Bebe to interact and control Penbo, via infrared signals. Penbo can also interact with you through the sensors on its head and tail, and the microphone hidden in its neck. Push the hidden buttons in Penbo’s head and right wing, for example, and it plays a mimic game. Press Bebe’s right wing, and Penbo plays a
peek-a-boo game.
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